One dead after Washington train trapped in smoke-filled tunnel

WASHINGTON (AP) — Smoke from an unidentified source filled a busy downtown subway station in the nation’s capital Monday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds just before afternoon rush hour, authorities said. Hundreds of passengers were evacuated from the L’Enfant Plaza station, one of the subway system’s busiest, about 3:30 p.m., said District of Columbia Fire and EMS spokesman Timothy Wilson. The Washington Post reported that a Virginia-bound Yellow Line train stopped suddenly just outside the station and began filling up with smoke, with some passengers choking and passing out while others passed around asthma inhalers for relief as they endured a long wait for rescue.

She said the National Transportation Safety Board, whose office is located at L’Enfant Plaza, was investigating and would provide additional information. Smoke was coming in pretty steadily.” Passenger Saleh Damiger was quoted by the newspaper as saying that people were choking and yelling aboard the train. “It was a lot of smoke,” she said. “We couldn’t see each other. … We felt like we were almost going to die.” Eighteen people from the station were taken to Medstar Washington Hospital Center, most of them for smoke inhalation, according to spokeswoman So Young Pak. George Washington University hospital spokesman Matt Brock said in an email that 34 patients suffering from smoke inhalation had been brought there and their conditions varied.